Teenager, 18, dies after getting out of ambulance on motorway

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Police said a teenager died after being hit by a car after getting out of an ambulance on the highway.

The 18-year-old got out of the ambulance after stopping to provide further treatment on the northbound carriageway of the M5 motorway in North Somerset, between junctions 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and 20 (Clevedon), while it was taking him to hospital.

Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement that the ambulance service notified police shortly after 11pm that the patient was on the motorway. The person hit by the car died at the scene.

As a result of the incident, the M5 was closed to allow emergency services to attend and investigations to take place. The road reopened Monday morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family at such a devastating time. We will support them in any way we can.”

“This incident has had a significant impact on our officers and ambulance crews, who are understandably upset by what happened.

“As well as providing support to the man’s family, we are also ensuring that appropriate welfare arrangements are in place for our staff, as well as any members of the public who were directly involved or witnessed the incident.”

Police said they contacted the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about what happened. The family have been notified of the death and are being supported by a police liaison officer.

Jane Whatello of South West Ambulance Service he told the BBC: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man involved in this incredibly sad incident.

“Our teams, as well as our police colleagues, are risking their own safety to help the patient and reduce the risk of harm to passing motorists, and I thank them for their efforts.”